Eye testing apparatus



Jan. 2, 1945. PEC ET A 2,366,554

EYE TESTING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I'll INVENTOH WILLIAM F PECK 19L /N H. seams/9E ATTORNEY Jan. 2 1945.

w. FQPECK ET AL 2,366,554

EYE TESTING APPARATUS A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1942 Jan. 2, 1945. w. F. PECK ET AL. 2,366,554

EYE TESTING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Jan. 2, 1945. w. F. PECK ET AL EYE TESTING APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 INVENTOH WILL/HM F. PECK ATT RNEY 81. w 9. GTE/90161712 Jan. 2, 1945.

Filed April 10, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 2, 1945 FFlCE T EYE TESTING APPARATUS William F. Peck, Snyder, and Albin A. Gradisar, T T Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application April} 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,376

8 Claims. (01. ass- 24) This invention relates -to improvements in eye testing apparatus, and has particular reference to projection type of apparatus.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor projecting matter upona screen for the purpose of testing vision and for arranging charts in such a manner thatthey may convenient y be projected in the accepted manner for test purposes. w l

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for more accuratelyand quickly setting'the objective lens system to proper focus,

and being so constructed that difierent objective systems may be interchanged to suit the different requirements of the examiner. W Another object is to provide means whereby certain parts of the test slides may be quickly and easily blocked out. T i

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for tilting or elevating the apparatus to any desirable position, and having means whereby the apparatus may be interchangeably used witheither a floor stand or a T table {stand as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide meanswhereby the vertical test slidemay be adjusted from either side ,of; the instrument. 1

Other-objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent, from the following descrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, audit will be apparent that many changes may be made and in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts shown and T described, without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed intheaccompanylngclaimsg We, therefore, do notwish to be limited to the exactdetails and arrangement of parts as the preferred form of illustration.

Referring to the drawings; i T

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the projector embodying the invention; T

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the projector with oneside wall thereof removed; T

Fl'ig. 3 is a perspective view of the removed side wa l; T

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the objective holding ring and means for adjusting same;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 andlooking in the direc tion indicated bythe arrows; T

Fig. 6 is a section through the objecting sysonly has been shown by way 'tem showing it in its assembled relation with the supporting tube and holding lring;

Fig. '7 is a side View of a horizontal test slide used with the projector;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; T

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing the means for locatingor indexing the horizontal test slide; T

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. l and looking in the. direction indicated -i by the arrows and showing the means for adjusting. the vertical slide from both sides of the instrument and means for controlling the elevation of the instrument; h T Fig. 11 is a side view of the lamp housing with parts "broken away to show the condensing len system,lamp and beamreflector; and T T l Fig. 12 is a side view of a vertical test slide.

l the tubes would loosely related.

cultyT was also encountered in retaining In the past, with instruments of this nature, great difficulty was encountered in setting the objective lens system to the proper focus. T

In most instances this was accomplished by manuallygrasping and moving one tube of the objective relative to another. It was essential that the fit between the two tubes be such that not bind and yet not be too If the fit was to'o'tight it was difiicult to ad-I just, if too loose a slightbumpor jarwould T move the objective out of adjustment.

Another difiiculty with projectors of this na ture was that the slides couldbe adjusted only from one side of the projector and further diffijector in desired-tilted position.

The present invention is directed to overcoming all of the above difficulties as well as providing other newand novel features; These features will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawi Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views; the. de-' vice embodying the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive comprisesa casing l5 and a cover 16 in which the various mechanisms are asT-' sembled. The casing 15 is provided with suitof the cover 1 B, when in assembled relationther'ewith. To help in assembling these parts, suit:

able locating pins 23 and 24' have been provided in the bosses and 2| of the cover It, these 10- cating pins 23 and 24 are adapted to index in suitable holes 25 and 26 located in the bosses l1 and 18 of the casing l5. The casing l5 and cover I6 are then secured together by means of screws at 21, 28 and 29. It is apparent that access may be had to the various mechanisms of the instrument by the removal of the three screws. 1

The casing l5 with the cover I6 attached thereto is pivotally and adjustably mounted on a suitable base 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The base 30 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a table model, but it is to be understood that this instrument is adapted to be interchangeably used on a floor stand as well. i

The casing |5 has a depending flange 3| which supports a bearing 32. The bearing 32 is adaptedto be held between two upright flanges 33 and 34 of the base 30 by means of a threaded stud The stud 35 has a reduced endportion 36 which is adapted to fit into an opening 31 of the upright flange 33. ed stud 35 is supported through an opening in the upright flange 34. A suitable hand knob 38 is attached to the end of the threaded stud 35. The depending flange 3| has a serrated outer face 39 which engages a member 40 of leather, fibr or At its opposed end the threadscrews 53, 54 and 55.

of clips or the like 52. The reflector support 5| is made substantially U shape in cross section with its two side walls adapted to partially surround the lamp 42. These side walls are spaced from the outer walls of the lamp housing 43 and tend to keep the heat from said walls while the heat rises towards the ventilation slots 49. The U shaped reflector support is adjustably supported within the lamp housing 43 by means of the The screws 53, 54 and 55 are supported by suitable bosses in the lamp housing 43.

the U shaped reflector support 5| in a direction other suitable material. The member 4|] may or and the instrument may be pivoted to any desired angular adjustment. When the instrument is in the desired angular adjustment the hand knob 38 is tightened; this will bring the serrated face 39 into frictional engagement with the member and thus lock the instrument in desired position.

A lamp socket 4| adapted to hold a suitable lamp 42 is mounted inside the casing |5 adjacent one end thereof. The lamp 42 is enclosed by a pivoted lamp housing 43. The lamp housing 43 is pivotally mounted on the casing I5 by a pivot pin 44. The lamp housing 43 is shown in open position in Fig. 2 and means are shown whereby the lamp housing may be held in closed position. These means consist of a spring clip 44a which is attached to the casing |5 by means of a screw 45 or other suitable means. The spring clip 44a is-adapted to latch in a suitable opening 46 in the. lamp housing 43'. The spring clip 4411 may be unlatched from the opening 46 by means of a compressible pin 41. The lower end of the pin 41 bears upon the spring clip 44 between the screw 45 andthe latching end which contacts the opening 46. The upper end of the pin 41 extends through the casing l5 where it is accessible to the operator. It will thus be seen that by pressing downwardly on the pin 41 that the spring clip 44a. will be moved and the latching end will be disengaged from the opening 46.

The upper portion of the. 1amp housing 43 is housing 43 and are threadably connected with the U shaped member 5|. Coil springs 56 are carried by the screws 53, 54 and 55 between the reflector support 5| and the bosses of the lamp The springs 56 are adapted to urge away from the bosses in the lamp housing 43 to retain said U shaped member in adjusted posi: tion relative to the lamp 42. The screws 53, 54 and 55 are positioned in substantially triangular form as shown in Fig. 1, thu making it possible to adjust the reflecting member either vertically or horizontally toreflect the beamof light in the proper direction.

Supported Within the casing I5, adjacent the lamp 42, by a screw 51, is a boxlike member 58. This boxlike member has mounted therein the condensing lenses 59, Bland 6|. These lenses are held in spaced relation with eachother in suitable slots 6|. The lenses 59, 60 and 6| are held in the slots 65 by the flat springs 63, 64 and 65. With this construction it will readily be seen that the lenses can be quickly and easily removed for cleaning or other purposes.

The boxlike member 58 is open on the side ad.- jacent the lamp 42, and has an aperture 66 in the opposite Side thereof. The opening 66 is provided to allow the light beam coming from the lamp 42, through the condensing lenses 59, 69 and 6| to continue into. other parts of the instrument. These parts will be expalined later in the specification. I

An electrical plug 61 is attached to the casing I5 adjacent the lamp 42 and has wires 68 which are connected to the lamp socket 4|. The plug 61 is adapted to be contacted by a plug located in the base 30, which receives electrical current through the wire 69 from any suitable source. A. control switch 10 is located onthe outer side of the bas 39. Thepbject of having the plug without disturbing the wiring.

preferably lined with asbestos or other suitable material 48 for insulation against heat which is caused by the lamp 42. There are suitable slots .49 formed in the lamp housing for ventilation The member 50 The objective system 1| is slidably held in proper optical alignment with the lamp 42 and the condensing lenses by the objective supporting tube 12. The objective supporting tube 12 is supported in th instrument by suitable bearlugs 13 and 14 on the casing I5. Between the supporting tube 12 and the objective system 1| there is provided a felt band 14a positioned internally of the supporting tube 12 as shownin Fig. 6. The objective system 1| has a locating pin or screw 15 which is located on the outer tubular casing 11 in proper spaced relation from the outer end of said casing and in proper axial relation with the lenses. The pin or screw 15 is adapted to index in a suitable slot 16. in the supporting tube 12, thus causing the objective system to be held in proper position in the instrument.

The objective system is of a standard typev well known in the art and consists of a series of lenses. a, b and c which are adapted to enable the desired focus to be obtained. ,As shown in Fig.8 the lens a is held into position against an internal shoulder at one end of a tubular casing 11 by means of a. threadedring "18. Abutting the lens a onits inner surface is an apertured collar I9 having an aperture 88 which is adapted to restrict the size of the light beam. The lenses b and c are assembled in the opposite end jofthe tubular casing 'I'I against an internal shoulder I therein. These lenses are separated by the spacer member 8|, and are held in place by a threaded ring 82. The objective tube II ha a lining I45 Of dull black surfaced paper to control the um- I formity of illumination.

The objective supporting tube I2 has anadjusting collar 83 rigidly mounted thereon in proper position intermediate the. ends of said tube by means ofscrews or th like 84 and 85. The objectiv supporting tube, I2. is held in the proper axial position by means of a pin 88, seeFig. 4,

objective system may b quickly and easily adjusted'to the proper focus.

Suitable: slots areprovided in the casing I and cover I6 whereby a suitableihorizontal slide I84 may be introduced into the instrument; This slide I84 is adapted to intercept the beam of I light, between the light source and the objective. I I

. system. The horizontal slide I84has certain lation with th block I89. The slide |84is adaptwhich extends from theadjusting collar 83, and

I is adapted to slide in a horizontal slideway 81,

as shown in Fig. 4. The horizontal slideway 81 is formed in a boss on th inner side of The objective lens system I I which is supported within the objective supporting tube I2 is adjusted to the p-roper focus by means of an adjusting knob 81a, which islocated on the exterior of the casing I5, on theend of an adjusting screw 88a; The adjusting screw 88a has a block 89 threadably attached thereto which is adapted tobe moved along the adjusting screw 88 by rotation thereon The block 89 has a slot .98

" which is adaptedto receive the end portion of the arm 9| of a bell crank 92. The arm 9| of the bell crank-92 haslaqlongitudinal slot93 in its end portion lying within the slot 98. The slotted end -93-is adapted to receive the reduced end port o 94 of a screw 95 attached to the block with theend 94 extending in said slot 98. The bell crank 92 is; pivotally held by a screw 96 to a suitable boss 91 formed on the inside of the casing I5. The arm 98 of the bell crank 92 has a slotted portion99 in the end thereof, which is "adapted to fit around a h pin I88 carried by the adjusting. collar 83.

Byrneans of this *me chanism it will be seen ing from the adjustable collar 83 into the slot 99of the bell crank arm 98 will therebycause the said collar to bemoved in a directio'nrearwardly or forwardly of the casing|5 depending upon the direction of rotation f the knob 81a.

system II to which the adjusting collar 83 is attached will therefore be moved to obtain the Proper focus. 3

9 Means have been provided for locking the ob jective system when in the proper focus. This is accomplished by means of a, locking screw 'I8I, which has a reduced end I82 that is adapted to bindagainstthe adjusting screw 88a. To eliminate any possible backlash in this mechanism a spring I82 is provided. The spring |82a is attached at one end to the screw 84 on the adjusting collar 83 and at its opposite end to a screw I83 on the bearing I4. i

It. will befseenthat bythis mechanism the means, such as the red and green glass screens I85 and I86 and tapered openings I81 and I88 shown in Figs. 7 and 8.. .These means are adapted to be positioned in the beam of light as the examiner desires. The test slide I84 is supported by and adapted to slide upon a block I89 which is secured to the condensing lens system housing 58. A blade spring 8 is attached to the condensing lens system housing 58 in spaced reed to slide between the block I89 and the spring II8. The spring member II8 has a V.-1ike] bend, th apex of which contacts the upper longitudinal edge of the horizontal s1ide|84 and is adapted to index in suitable. indents III, H2 and H3 along said edge to locate the different means in said slide in proper position in the light beam.

The slide m4 has a knob n4 attached at one end thereof for adjusting theslide to difierent positions. -A screw 5 is located at the opposite end when the slide is in the instrument. This is to keep th slide from accidently being pulled out. I

. On the inside of the casing I5 and the cover I6 in verticalalignment with each-other are spaced ribs H6 and III, which extend substantially the full height thereof. These. spaced ribs provide channels or grooves I I8 and 9 extending ion gitudinally thereof. The grooves H8 and H9 are The vertical test slide no is introduced into the instrument through a slot: I2I. This slot is formed by the communicating recesses I22 and I23 respectively of the casing I5 and the cover I 6, when in assembled relation. The vertical test slide is held frictionally in the channels or grooves H8 and IIS by means of a flat spring I24 shown in Fig. 3. The spring I24 is attached to a raised boss on the cover I8 adjacent the rib III.

The

I rib III has a cut outportion to allow the spring to contact thevertical test slide I28.

The vertical test slide I28, as shown in Fig. 12,

is of the type disclosedin United States Letters acters I22 for testing visual acuity and an astig- The objective supporting tube 12 and objective w through a belt I25.

Patent #2;065,430 issuedDecember 22, 1936. to J. R. Cohen. This test slide comprises a transparent plate I 2| which carries suitable test char maticchart for testing astigmatism.. The astigmatic chart is remotely controlled by a knob I24, 'I'he test chart I28 has a series ofspaced apertures I28 adjacent the op posed edges of the slide which are adapted to fit within the channels or grooves I I8 and H9.

The test slide I28 is adapted to be adjusted verticallyto place the different charts in the desired the like I35. The shafts I29 and I38 are rotatably mounted in the bearings I3I and I32 on the casing I5 and cover I8 respectively adjacent the ribs H6 and I". There are suitable control knobs I33 and I 34 mounted on the outer ends of j therespective shafts I 29 and;I:3il for adjustingth'e H3, and has a framing opening I31 in alignment with the beam oflight. This member I36 is substantially Lshaped, with one side. contacting the inner surface of the casing I and rigidly secured thereto by screws or other suitable means. The portion of the member I36 having the framing opening I31 therein extends across the beam of light and is adapted toframeor outline a portion of thetest chart which is to be projected.

When it is desired to block out other parts of the test chart within the area of the framing opening I31 to permit only a single line of test characters to be projected a member I38 is swung into place adjacent the framing member I36.

The member I38 is provided with an aperture I38 which is adapted to substantially line up with the aperture I31 of the framing member I36 when swung into aligned position therewith. The aperture i39'is smaller than theaperture I3I thus looking out all except the single line to be projected. The member I38 is pivotally mounted on the member I36 on a pin I40, and is adapted to be pivoted into and out of alignment with the framing aperture I31 by means of a control knob MI. The control knob MI is attached to a rod I42 which is connected to an extending lip' portion I43 on the member I38. The control knob MI is located exteriorly of the casing I5 Where it will be readily accessible to the operator.

Movement is imparted to the member I38 by raising or lowering the knob HI. A lip I44 extending from the member I36 is provided for the member I 38 to seat upon when in position in alignment with the light beam. When not in use the member I38 will be raised and will rest against the inside of the casing I5.

I It will thus be seen that simple and efiicient means have been provided whereby a single line aperture can quickly and easily be placed in posi-- tion with the test chart.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the drawings, it will be seen that we have provided simple, economical and emcient means for obtaining all the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described ,portion of the housing toward the friction-like washer for clamping the said surface. or irregular contour in binding relation with said friction-like washer and with the adjacent upright portion to hold the projector in adjusted position relative to the base. v

2. An, apparatus, of'the character described comprising a projector having a light source; means for producing a beamof light, means forfocusing said light, a slideway locatedintermedi-' ate said light source and said focusing means adapted to receive a slide having spaced serrations adjacient the, opposed longitudinal edgesv thereof ancl'spaced independently operablemeans.

respective serrations of said slide when in positionin said slideway and each having a portion extending outwardly of the apparatus on opposite sides thereof and each being separately operable for moving the slide longitudinally of the slide- Way wherebythe slide may be operated from opposite sides of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having a light source therein, means for producing a projected beam of light and means for focusing said light, said focusing means comprising a pair of spaced bearings in.- ternally of'theapparatusa tubular member slid-1 ably supported in said bearing, a resilient member, attachment means on said tubular member to which one end of said resilient memberis se-. cured and means on one of said bearingmembers to which the opposed end of the resilient member is secured'for normally urging said tubular mem-. ber in a direction inwardly of said apparatus, a slideway in the apparatus extending in a direction longitudinally of the tubular member, means on said attachment means fitting within said slideway, a bell crank pivotally supported in said apparatus, said bell crank having longitudinally slotted portions adjacent the ends thereof, means on said attachment means extending inwardlyof one of said slots, a block on the opposed ends of said bell crank having a pin-like portion extending inwardly, of the slot of said end and having a threaded opening therein substantially normally disposed relative to the longitudinal axis of the the pin-like member, a screw-like member rotatably supported on the apparatus having a threaded portion extending within the threaded opening of the block and having an adjusting knob adjacent the opposed end outwardly of the apparatus whereby threaded movement of the block longitudinally of thethreaded portion of the adjusting screw will cause the bell crank to moveaboutits pivot and simultaneously move the attachment means and the tubular member to which it is secured in a direction longitudinally of the spaced bearing members, a second tubular member in telescopic relation with the firsttubular member and a projection lens system carried by said sec ond tubular member.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having a light source therein, means for producing a projected beam of light and means for focusing said light, said focusing means comprising a pair of spaced hearings internally of the apparatus, a tubular member slid ably supported in said bearing, a resilientmember, attachment means on said tubular member to which one end of said resilient member is secured and means on one, of said bearing mern+ bers to which the opposed end of the resilient member is secured for normally urging said tubular member in. a direction inwardly of said apparatus, a slideway in the apparatus extending in'a direction longitudinally of the tubular member, means. on said attachment means fitting within sa d slideway, a bell crank pivotally supported in said apparatus, said bell crank having longitudie nally slotted portions adjacent the ends thereof,

means on said attachmentmeans extending inwardly of one of said slots, a block on the opposed endsof said bell crank having a pin-like dinal axis of the pin-like member, a screw-like 9 member rotatably supported on the apparatus having a threaded portion extending within the threaded opening of the block and having an adjusting knob adjacent the opposed end outwardly of theapparatus whereby threaded movement of the block longitudinally of the threaded portion of the adjusting screw will cause, thebell crank to move about its pivot andsimultaneously move the attachment means and the tubular member to which it is secured in a direction longitudinally of by said second tubular member and means for securing said screw-like adjustment means in a fixed adjusted position. 5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a projector having spaced bearing.

having aportion extending outwardly of the apparatus adapted to be rotated and interconnected with lever means which is in turn connected with said tubular member, said lever means being so controlled as to greatly amplify said rotary movement functioning in opposition to the resilient means for adjusting said tubular member longitudinally of said bearing portions, a second tubular member containing a focusing system slidably supported in said tubular member, said second tubular member having reflection reducing means internally thereof.

7. ,acter described comprising a pair of telescopically arranged tubular members, one of which has a lens system therein, said tubular members a tubular member slidably supported in said spaced bearingportions, means on said tubular member fornormally urging said tubular member towards one of said embodying a lever connected with said portion extending outwardly of the apparatus andwith the j tubular member and having characteristics for greatly amplifying said rotary movement functioning inopposition to the resilient means and j for adjusting said tubular member longitudinally of saidbearing portions and a second tubular being slidably supported as a unit in bearing means, spring means connected adjacent one of its ends with one of said tubular members and adjacent its opposed end with, a portion of the bearing means for urging said tubular members as a unit in one direction, means for retaining said tubular member as a unit against rotation during said sliding movement and means having a remotely operable threaded portion connected with a block secured to one end of pivotally supported bell crank type lever means which is in turn" connectedadjacent its opposed end with one of said tubular members for moving said tubular members as a unit against the action of; the resilient means when said remotely operable threaded portion is operated.

member containing a focusing system slidably supported in said tubular member.

, 6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a projector having spaced bearing portions for supporting the focusing means theree l of, one of said bearing portions having a relatively large surface hearing as compared withthe other of said bearing portions, a tubular member slidably supported in said spaced bearing portions, means on said tubular member for normally urging said tubular member towards one of said bearin portions, motion transfer means 8.'An apparatus of the character described comprising a projector having a light source, means for producing a beam of light and means for focusing said beam of light, a pair of substantially normally disposed slideways between said light source and said means for focusing said beam of light, a plate member having a framing opening therein pivotallysupported internally of the apparatus adjacent said normally disposed-slideways about a pivot having its axis disposed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the means for focusing the beam of light and means extending inwardly of the apparatus and focusing system fora device of the char- 

